Supporting means for sheet material



June 10, 1952 A. c. HOVEN ETAL SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SHEET MATERIAL n a 1M T n E f m war 2% s V Lu mfimm m a m d 2 Wa A w lat kiln I! HAVFH NJune 10, 1952 A. c. HOVEN ETAL 2 SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SHEET MATERIAL E.2 Mn 0 Jw W M a r m mow w. m E m m u l l CE m n 2 MI s m m 2 7 mm 5 hm mw l a n mm V. m 2 m "m u M HE" m I 2 ml 7... o m u r .7, w. 7. n m (I zm .3 s z 6 r a 2 Z 1 w .E. .r M l d 1 F Patented June 10, 1952 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,599,918 SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SHEET MATERIALAlfred C. Haven and Walter E. Nordmark, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignors toAmerican Seating Company, Grand Rapids,Mich., a corporation of NewJersey Application May 26, 1949, Serial No. 95,462 Q Claims. (Cl.248273) The present invention relates to supporting means for sheetmaterials and more particularly to supporting means for mounting a lightdiffusion screen adjacent a window or the like.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a light diffusionscreen and supporting means therefor which may quickly and easily beinstalled adjacent a window in properly adjusted position, and even ininstances wherein the vertical wall surfaces at opposite sides of thewindow lie in different planes parallel to the plane of the window; toprovide such a diifusion screen and supporting means therefor soconstructed and arranged that the screen may readily be attached to thesupporting means or detached therefrom for the purpose of cleaning thescreen; and in general to provide such a diffusion screen and supportingmeans which is sturdy in construction, reasonably economical inmanufacture, and attractive in appearance.

These and any other and more specific objects hereinafter appearing areattained by, and the invention finds preferable embodiment in, thestructures and devices hereinafter particularly described andillustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view of the inside of a buildingwall having windows therein and showing the new light diffusion screenand supporting means therefor mounted adjacent said windows;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken on line 22 ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of parts ofthe same which are outlined in broken lines in the upper right handcorner of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 55 ofFigure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged, end elevational view with portions broken away,of one of the supports by means of which the light diffusion screen ismounted;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view of the same takenon line 1-1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View of the same taken on line 88 ofFigure 6;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a portion of one ofthe diffusion screen supports, and;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same taken on line IB--IO of Figure 6.

Referring now in detail to these drawings 2 wherein like parts aredesignated by the same numerals in the several views, the lightdiffusion screen generally designated II is mounted adjacent the insideof Windows I2, I3 and I4 in the outer wall I5 of a building and inupwardly-inwardly extending disposition. The purpose of such a diffusionscreen is to reduce the glare from the windows without materiallyreducing the amount of light which is permitted to enter. Such screeningis desirably made of woven spun glass or the like which, as indicated byarrows in Figure 2, transmits some of the light directly while at thesame time deflecting much of the light upwardly toward the ceiling fromwhich it is reflected down into the room. Such diffusion screens areparticularly desirable in classrooms.

For mounting the diffusion screen II in correctly adjusted positionadjacent the window I3, wall brackets I6 are provided, which brackets I6are cross-sectionally U-shaped and which are secured to the wallsurfaces at opposite sides of the window as by means of screws passingthrough apertures in the bight portions l8 of the brackets and into thewall. The legs l9 of these wall brackets I6 extend inwardly and areprovided with horizontally elongated slots 20 therein.

Mounting members 2|, of generally rectangular cross-section and formedof complementary sheet metal elements 22, 23 are slid onto the wallbrackets It and are secured thereto in inwardlyoutwardly adjustedposition by means of bolts 24 passing through apertures in the oppositeside walls of the mounting members 2| and through the slots 26 in thewall brackets, said bolts 24 being provided with nuts 25 on the threadedends thereof. Spacer elements 26 are provided between the legs I9 of thewall brackets to prevent collapsing of the legs when the nuts 25 aretightened on the bolts 24, said spacer elements being secured inposition by the same screws I! which secure the wall brackets It to thewall, and being provided with curled portions 21 which surround thespaces between the slots 29.

The inner ends of the mounting members 2| are upwardly-inwardly slopingand are provided with upwardly-inwardly sloping fingers 28 which areformed by bending up the inwardly projecting ends of the horizontalflanges of the sheet metal elements 22, 23 which form the mountingmembers 2|. Supporting brackets 29 are provided with series of pockets30 formed therein which pockets are selectivelyengageable with thefingers 28 on the mounting members 2| in order to secure the spacedsupporting brackets 29 in upwardly-inwardly adjusted horizontalalignment. The supporting brackets 29 have inwardly extending upper arms3| provided with sockets 32 on the inner ends thereof, and inwardlyextending lower arm 33 having sockets 34 on the inner ends thereof, saidupper arms 3| extending farther inwardly than the lower arms 33. Whencorrectly installed the sockets 32 on the upper arms 3| are horizontallyaligned and serve as a mooring for the upper marginal edge 35 of thediffusion screen II, in which edge is hemmed a tubular bar 36 forrigidity. The lower sockets 34 are similarly horizontally aligned andserve as a mooring for the lower marginal edge 31 of the diffusionscreen II, in which edge is hemmed a similar tubular bar 38, likewisefor rigidity. Spring clips 39 may be employed for detachably securingthe bars and the edges of the diffusion screen within the upper andlower sockets of the supporting brackets 29. (See Figures 3, 4 and 6.)

The invention provide suitable mounting means for a diffusion screeneven in instances wherein the wall surfaces at opposite sides of thewindow on which the supporting brackets are mounted, lie in differentvertical planes parallel to the window. As best shown in Figures 1 and2, the window I3 is flanked by a mullion 40 between the windows |2, l3and by a pilaster 4|. The vertical inner wall surface of the pilaster 4|lies in a more inward plane than that of the mullion 49. In such acondition the wall bracket 13 and mounting member 2| on the pilaster 4|are placed at a higher level than those on the mullion 40, so that thesloping inner ends of the mounting members 2| lie in the sameupwardly-inwardly extending plane. The supporting bracket 29 on thepilaster is then engaged by a relatively high pair of pockets 30 thereonwith the fingers 28 on the adjacent mounting member, and the supportingbracket 29 on the mullion is engaged by a relatively low pair of pockets3|] thereon with the fingers 28 on its adjacent mounting member, so thatthe supporting brackets are positioned in horizontal alignment.Substantial differences between the planes of the wall surfaces are thuscompensated for, while slight differences may be compensated for by theinward-outward horizontal adjustability of the mounting members 2|relative to the wall brackets l6.

In installations where there is a series of windows, it is founddesirable to mount a continuous diffusion screen adjacent the windows.As best seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, this is accomplished by connectingthe adjoining ends of adjacent screens each mounted and supported ashereinbefore described. Connecting elements 42 in the form of shortlengths of metal tubing are fitted into the adjacent end of the uppertubular bars 36 within the hems of adjacent screens and likewise withinthe adjacent ends of the lower tubular bars 38, and a slide fastener orzipper 43 detachably connects the adjacent ends of the screen sectionsII. It will thus be seen that the adjacent screen sections l are readilydetachable from each other, and they are also readily detachable fromthe supporting brackets 29 therefor upon first removing the spring clips39, when it is desired to take the screen downs for cleaning withoutdisturbing the supporting means.

Only one length of'diffusion screen has been shown in the drawings,which screens the upper sections of the windows. Additional screens may4 be provided at lower levels, however, for screening the lower sectionsof the windows.

It will thus be seen that a novel, convenient and effective diffusionscreen and supporting means therefor is provided by the invention, andwhile but one specific embodiment of the invention has been herein shownand described, it is to be understood that the spirit of the inventioncomprehends all such modifications of the embodiment shown as fallwithin the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Means for supporting a light diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardlyextending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window beingflanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in diiferent verticalplanes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising:mounting members connected to said wall surfaces respectively andextending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equallength and having upwardly-inwardly sloping inner ends. and beingsecured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that their slopinginner ends lie in the same upwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supportingbrackets mounted on said mounting members in horizontal alignment andprovided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms, said upper armsextending inwardly beyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported onthe inner ends of the upper arms and serving as a mooring for the uppermarginal edge of said diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal barsupported by the lower arms and serving as a mooring for the lowermarginal edge of said diffusion screen.

2. Means for supporting alight diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardlyextending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window beingflanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in different verticalplanes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising:mounting members connected to said wall surfaces respectively andextending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equallength and having upwardly-inwardly sloping inner ends, and beingsecured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that their slopinginner ends lie in the same upwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supportingbrackets vertically adjustably mounted on said mounting members inhorizontal alignment and provided with inwardly extending upper andlower arms, said upper arms extending inwardly beyond said lower arms; ahorizontal bar supported on the inner ends of the upper arms and servingas a mooring for the upper marginal edge of said diffusion screen; and asimilar horizontal bar supported by the lower arms and serving as amooring for the lower marginal edge of said diifusion screen.

3. Means for supporting a light diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardlyextending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window beingflanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in difierent verticalplanes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising: wallbrackets connected to said wall surfaces respectively; mounting membersinwardly-outwardly adjustably connected to said wall brackets andextending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equallength and having upwardly-inwardly sloping inner ends, and said Wallbrackets being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so thatthe sloping inner ends of the mounting members lie in the sameupwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supporting brackets mounted on saidmounting members in horizontal alignment and provided with inwardlyextending upper and lower arms, said upper arms extending inwardlybeyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported on the inner ends ofthe upper arms and serving as a mooring for the upper marginal edge ofsaid diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal bar supported by thelower arms and serving as a mooring for the lower marginal edge of saiddiffusion screen.

4. Means for supporting a light diffusion screen in upwardly-inwardlyextending disposition adjacent a window or the like, such window beingflanked by inner wall surfaces which may lie in difierent verticalplanes parallel to the plane of the window, said means comprising: wallbrackets connected to said wall surfaces respectively; mounting membersinwardly-outwardly adjustably connected to said Wall brackets andextending inwardly therefrom, said mounting members being of equallength and having upwardlyinwardly sloping inner ends provided withupwardly-inwardly extending aligned fingers thereon, and said wallbrackets being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so thatthe sloping inner ends of the mounting members lie in the sameupwardly-inwardly inclined plane; supporting brackets having series ofpockets therein selectively engageable with said fingers to secure thesupporting brackets to said mounting members in upwardly-inwardlyadjusted horizontally aligned positions, said supporting brackets beingprovided with inwardly extending upper and lower arms, said upper armsextending inwardly beyond said lower arms; a horizontal bar supported onthe inner ends of the upper arms and serving as a mooring for the uppermarginal edge of said diffusion screen; and a similar horizontal barsupported by the lower arms and serving as a mooring for the lowermarginal edge of said diffusion screen.

5. Means for supporting a sheet of material in sloping dispositionadjacent wall surfaces in spaced parallel vertical planes, said meanscomprising: mounting members connected to said wall surfacesrespectively in horizontally spaced relation and extending laterallyfrom said surfaces in the same direction, said mounting members being ofequal length and having their ends away from the wall similarly sloping,and being secured to said wall surfaces at selected levels so that theirsloping ends lie in the same sloping plane; supporting bracketsvertically adjustably mounted on said mounting members in horizontalaligmnent and provided with inwardly extending upper and lower armsadapted to support said sheet of material at spaced points along theupper and lower edges thereof.

ALFRED C. HOVEN. WALTER E. NORDMARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,218,122 Scott Mar. 6, 19171,322,811 Moore Nov. 25, 1919 2,185,385 Rose Jan. 2, 1940 2,334,856Atkinson Nov. 23, 1943 2,484,855 Press Oct. 18, 1949

